welcome

New Hebrides

Here to stay - and very welcome

‘The Japanese have well and truly arrived in the New Hebrides, and they’re welcome because they’re seen as

developing the place.’

In these terms Ken Hutton, dentist and cattleman of Santo, summed up the Japanese pres ence in the country which has been his home for the past 25 years.

Interviewed by PIM during a brief visit to Sydney in August, Mr Hutton admitted there had been some resentment of the

Japanese, especially among

Australians based on Santo, when they first arrived in 1957 to set up their big South Pacific

Fishing Company (SPFC) op

eration at Palekula on Santo. ‘But all that’s gone and forgot ten,’ he said. ‘They’re very much part of the scene on Santo now.’

There are about 30 Japanese stationed at Palekula and some wives and children are begin

ning to join them. Increasing

numbers of Melanesians are

being employed by SPFC,

including office staff. ‘Nobody else can fish like the Japanese with their

longline techniques,’ says Mr

Hutton. ‘They’re much admired locally for this.’

As well as taking fish to

Japan, the Taiwan ships fishing

out of Palekula are now taking manufacturing beef (for small goods) from the New Hebrides.

It is expected that they will begin taking frozen meats, es pecially as about six months ago Japan declared the New Hebrides a disease-free zone for beef.

Apart from Palekula, the Japanese presence in the New Hebrides is most visible at Le Lagon Hotel in Vila. Since the hotel came under the control of

Japan’s Tokyu hotel organis

ation, the number of Japanese tourists has jumped dramati

cally.

‘Engaged couples come in

droves to get married at the Presbyterian church on Fila Island in Vila harbour,’ says

Mr Hutton. ‘They fly from Tokyo by UTA DC 10s to Noumea, and then come on to Vila by UTA 737 s or F2Bs.’

Mr Hutton says there has been talk of Japan Air Lines

(JAL) securing Tokyo-

Noumea-Auckland rights. The tourists behave impeccably and are well regarded by residents. ‘There’s a cheerful cosmo politan atmosphere at Le Lagon,’ says Mr Hutton. ‘There are two or three Japanese executives, French chefs, and New Hebrideans and a sprink

ling of Fijians hold practically

all the office and service jobs.’

Apart from these two oper

ations, the biggest Japanese

project on the drawing boards for the New Hebrides is the Mitsubishi-Sumitomo wood chip mill on Santo. The project is planned to cover 29 000 ha and to cost about SA6 million.

There is a feeling locally that the promoters are waiting until the New Hebrides becomes

independent before getting the

project off the ground.

Ken Hutton sums up: ‘There’s no doubt whatsoever that the Japanese have come to the New Hebrides to stay, and that there’ll be still wider co operation when the country be

comes independent.’